sonalovesdesign

Carolyn Gavin and ecojot

2012-02-27T15:21:00.000+02:00

Carolyn Gavin is one of my favourite illustrators. She's the principal designer for ecojot - those gorgeous notebooks that you can buy at Exclusive Books. I've always felt drawn to her illustrations a bit more than most and have seen on her recently redesigned blog that although she now lives in Toronto she grew up in SA. So that explains quite a bit. Here are some illustrations that she recently did in collaboration with her daughter which she hopes might be the start of a book (me too!)…

Another happy day in Africa

2012-02-24T14:28:00.000+02:00

I'm a long-time fan of Flowermill cards and stationary. I have their Birthday Calender on my wish list (anything that will help me be more organised) and couldn't agree more… for all the things we like to moan about down here it's so true that every new day is just another happy day in Africa! Happy weekend to you all!

Bruno Munari's ABC

2012-02-23T16:53:00.000+02:00

So while I'm on the subject and search (for all things alphabetical and retro it seems) I also found this book by Bruno Munari. I'm definitely going to order one for my boys. There is very little imagery of this book available on the net but when I do get it I'll be sure to scan in some more for you to see!

A is for Acorn

2012-02-20T13:06:00.001+02:00

I've been looking around for some Alphabet books and posters and found these retro illustrations in a book called A Child’s Alphabet by Grace Gabler. B is for brilliant!

The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman

2012-02-17T09:42:00.000+02:00

This was my most favourite book when I was a child. My mom has kept all our old books and my two boys and I still enjoy reading them. In The Best Nest, poor Mr Bird gets an earful because Mrs Bird doesn't like her old nest. So they go off looking for a new one. Much adventure and some drama later they end up back at the old nest, which Mrs Bird decides is the best nest. Here are some scans from the 1969 original.

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T12:51:00.001+02:00

Cheesy I know, but as my 4-year old son would say 'oh whatever', here's wishing you all a happy St Valentine's Day! To celebrate: some romantic, dreamy illustrations by Ingrid Hall. I recently spotted her illustration blocks (they sell for about R150) at my new local, around the corner coffee shop – Bean in Love. More of that to come soon… until then, lots of love!

Christmas Countdown

2011-12-01T18:45:00.000+02:00

It's the 1st of December and the Christmas Day countdown has begun. (Just breath!). I haven't bought an advent calendar yet as I'm not sure anything containing chocolate would last more than 30 seconds in our house. So I'm thinking that one of these from JA! (aka Janine de Waal and Alta Stegmann) would be perfect. Completely different and beautifully illustrated by Alta, they most definitely remind me of the more magical and fun side of the festive season. You can buy them at the Fringe Market this Saturday or at the Designer-Maker Artisan Market on the 14-16th December. You can also find them at Tastebud in Stellenbosch, Pulp Kitchen & Deli in Willowbridge and at Marigold and Blank Space in Cape Town. Included in the box are 25 cards, red ribbon and the prettiest instructions ever.

Dorp Street, Stellenbosch

2011-11-29T21:49:00.000+02:00

The Dorp Street Gallery has to officially be my happy place (or at least it comes in at a very close second to the Chanel make-up and fragrance counter at the Waterfront). Every time I go in there I think: if I had to win the lotto I could easily buy up the entire place (at least I have a store card for my other wish list). What makes it even better is that adjoining the gallery is the divine De Oude Bank Bakkerij. I have blogged about it before… I love it that much. Here are a few pics of my favourite works and a bit of the restaurant and new Brasserij. The sculpture of the man and woman on the right are by Marieke Prinsloo of Walking the Road fame.

Cape Point getaway

2011-11-23T09:55:00.001+02:00

It's been over a month since my last blog post. Not sure what I've been up to but I think it might have something to do with a lot of admin and the need to take a little rest (2011 has been quite some year). Our family from the UK arrived just in time to get us all away for a long weekend (throats were sore, eyes were black… honestly, things were not looking good) to Cape Point Cottages. It's a bit of a joke really… we hopped in the car and 45 minutes later we arrived in another world. Needless to say we came away with fresh air in our lungs and a spring in our step. Oh, and not to be forgotten – a fab rusk recipe (thanks to Sally who runs the show at the cottages). Anyway, here are a few pics taken with my new little Canon mik en drik…

How to Block Print

2011-10-20T22:12:00.000+02:00

Ever since posting those beautiful block printed cards by Love and Reason I've been thinking about finding a how to somewhere (I only have some vague college memories of a grey lino board and a few wood-cutting tools). So, I found this most useful and beautiful step by step on Papersnitch done by Ania of Paper Cut Works.

Nice hey! For the nitty-gritty and so on you can go here. Alternatively, and maybe even more useful if you are a local yocal, you can see how Jesse Breytenbach does her block printing on her blog Jezze Prints. Some helpful questions and answers posted at the end too – as in what inks and tools are best for the job.

Doodles

2011-10-19T10:36:00.000+02:00

I did these drawings quite a long time ago and had to get them out the other day to scan in. I had forgotten how much these two funny looking people make me smile.

Midnight Garden and Flower Power

2011-10-17T10:02:00.001+02:00

Really loving Linda Edwards' illustrations. Here are two more…

Birthday card by Linda Edwards

2011-10-13T20:39:00.002+02:00

This has been sitting in my draft folder for about 2 weeks now because I scanned it in and then couldn't find the card to credit the illustrator. Much huffing and puffing later I found it – yes, it's so predictable – in the scanner! So what I was meant to say all those days ago – this is my birthday card by Linda Edwards for Clare Maddicott from my lovely husband who knows exactly what style of illustration I love. Moonlight Garden completely sums it up…

Le Souk crochet rug

2011-10-12T16:09:00.003+02:00

A quick little re-post from my favourite blog The Style Files. How beautiful is this crochet rug from Le Souk?
I have hooky envy – big time.

Block printing by Love & Reason

2011-10-03T18:02:00.001+02:00

How gorgeous are these block printed notecards by Kate Sutlive of Love & Reason. Definitely going to spend some more time reading her blog. It's filled with her inspiring work and some super interesting looking posts – I'm always keen for a bit of art history!

From Africa with love

2011-09-30T15:02:00.001+02:00

I couldn't find the share to facebook or twitter icon on the styles files blog so thought I'd do a quick cut and paste (hey, it's what I do best after all) into mine. From Africa with love is a new showroom/gallery located in Amsterdam selling contemporary interior design by some of our most talented designers. I feel all proud and homesick just looking at these – and I live here. Thank goodness for that.

Happy New Year!

2011-09-28T17:40:00.001+02:00

Oliver made this at school this week – they were being taught about the Jewish New Year and of course apples and honey featured quite prominently. I love it… and thought I must share and take the opportunity to wish all my Jewish friends a very happy New Year. May your year be filled with blessings!

Crochet happiness

2011-09-27T15:28:00.000+02:00

Look at what my unbelievably talented sister-in-law Salome made for me! I share a house with 3 British passport holders and this crochet cushion has more than one set of eyes checking it out. Thankfully, my men have no interest in pink so the bag is all mine. Salome: your talent, skill and perfectionism in everything you leaves me gobsmacked. The only thing left for me to say: guys if you want to order one… send me mail.

New from Deep Dark Africa

2011-09-21T22:57:00.000+02:00

These arrived in my inbox recently… gorgeous new products from Deep Dark Africa. How about those little baby booties!

Happy Spring Day

2011-09-01T14:11:00.001+02:00

Ok… so winter has finally arrived today but I don't care and am celebrating spring anyway! So excited to find these heart brooches and pendants by Skermunkil for sale on Beatnik Bazaar's new online shop. I have a plain red and green heart necklace which I love and wear all the time but think a little floral one will be just springtastic.

My first crush

2011-07-28T16:44:00.005+02:00

I'm in the midst of a huge (gargantuan!) deadline so my poor (much loved by me) blog is really taking a back seat (never mind the crochet… that's practically on the 2012 list). But a good friend and fellow designer sent me this You Tube animated film called My first crush and it's just what the doctor ordered (along with tea and chocolate). I couldn't help but find a few more of Julia Pott's illustrations to share… hope they make you smile too!

Boer & Brit

2011-07-20T16:25:00.002+02:00

A few weeks ago Paul (aka my husband) and I had the best ever, romantic weekend away in Stellenbosch. The first thing we did when we arrived was to head off to De Oude Bank Bakkerij for a lazy tapas lunch. Along with all of this, of course, was a bottle of Boer & Brit Suiker Bossie Red (a Rhone inspired blend of Shiraz and Viognier – so says the bit on their website.) So I got to sit, relax, and enjoy a really awesome wine and at the same time admire this gorgeous label (not often I can say that!). Mmmmm… quite fancy the look of their Cap Classique and Bob's Your Uncle too. Think a glass or two are just what's needed for some mid-week inspiration!

Ok, and because this is meant to be a design blog (and because I just had to find out who the genius behind all this is) here are some more images from the Boer & Brit Wine packaging… designed and illustrated by South African design agency Fanakalo. Mooi!

My new bag!

2011-07-14T21:46:00.000+02:00

At last here it is! My lovely, gorgeous, way too-nice-for-grocery-shopping Orla Kiely bag. It was designed exclusively in 2010 for Tesco's in the UK (as a reusable grocery bag and to raise money for charity) and thanks to my dear friend Charlotte who lives all the way up north in Cumbria I now have one all the way down south here in Cape Town. Thank you! I love it so much – I won't let a single smelly onion near it. So far it's made a great little bits n bobs and nappy bag but i think it's ultimate destiny will be to look after my crochet wool, hooks and needles. Happiness all round.

Flowers for you

2011-07-11T11:47:00.000+02:00

It seems I like to start the week with a bloom or two! I love this paper collage illustration by Jennifer Judd Mc-Gee… it makes me want to get out a pair of scissors and some glue. Hope you all have a good Monday and a great week ahead.

Ellen Giggenbach

2011-07-07T16:59:00.000+02:00

I've been following Ellen Giggenbach's blog for ages now. I love her simple shapes and bright use of colour. She lives in Wellington, New Zealand and these images depict the local wild life and craft. Super original!

Creative colouring

2011-07-07T10:31:00.000+02:00

Sometimes you just can't beat good old fashioned colouring in to keep kids busy (especially now that it's school holidays and the weather isn't so great here). I love Made by Joel – it's such a fabulous website full of creative things you can make with your children. There is a whole page devoted to Colouring Sheets… his designs are so gorgeous (wonky hand drawn lines – tick! No dinosaurs that need a purple crayon – yes!). I'm definitely going to print a couple of these out for my boys.

Happy Monday

2011-07-04T13:37:00.001+02:00

Life has been super busy since last Monday… so much so that I haven't even had the chance to read my favourite blogs (completely unacceptable). But I arrived quite early at the office this morning, had a quick scoot around and found this by chance on Etsy. It's by Jessica, a London based illustrator and graphic designer. It's just the bit of yellow happiness that I need to get this week started. Hope you all have a good one too!

Orla Kiely

2011-06-27T21:21:00.000+02:00

Something arrived in the post today that has me loving Orla Kiely more than ever! I can't wait to show you and all will be revealed as soon as I get some time to take a picture but until then this should fill the gap.

The Book Lounge

2011-06-21T20:39:00.002+02:00

Every once in a while we drop by The Book Lounge for children's story hour on a Saturday morning. We don't do it too often – it is, to be quite honest, mostly disastrous (our boys are always more interested in the little ramp to the side of the staircase – it makes a great slide!) and very frustrating (because I can never really take a leisurely look through all their gorgeous books). But the tea and cupcakes are so lovely, you get to see other frazzled-looking parents (always nice to know you are not alone) and it's a cosy place to be, especially when the weather is bad. Best of all though is this brilliant mural illustrated by Julia Anastasopoulos (aka knolc). It's the kind of thing you could never get tired of looking at – every time I go up close, I see something new. It should keep a child busy for hours… anyway, back to that ramp…

Deep Dark Africa

2011-06-17T13:31:00.000+02:00

This is so exciting it can't wait until next week to make an appearance. Deep Dark Africa is a new online shop by Cape Town fashion and decor stylist Alexia Kondylis. It's full of the most gorgeous, contemporary hand made South African objects. I love, love them all… especially the Skinny laMinx cushions and the crochet light (I could go on for quite some time about that). Here are a few of my favourites…

What to do with all that kiddies' artwork…

2011-06-17T09:29:00.002+02:00

I just can't throw any of it away, even if it's just a page with one blue scribble, or a strange (there's absolutely nothing to do around here) Elastoplast-and-empty-biltong-packet collage. They're all sitting in a large envelope in the drawer under our TV. So I had a look around and found these ideas for displaying all my mini-Monet and Pollock masterpieces. It looks easy enough to do (especially the first one) and I like the way you can chop and change the artworks around. The third/last idea is also clever and super stylish (I live in hope). Maybe I’ll get to one of each eventually.

Winter leaves

2011-06-13T21:19:00.000+02:00

Ok… so I've managed to hold out from posting about my kids for a whole five blog posts but I just can't help myself any longer (I don't need much encouragement – you have been warned)! Oliver had this all scrunched up in his little school bag today and I have to say that it is (officially) the most beautiful flat art I have ever seen.

Walking the road

2011-06-07T07:08:00.005+02:00

Last Friday morning I went for a walk along the Sea Point promenade. It's one of those things I wish I did more often and the idea was to post these pictures on the same day – but here I am five days later finally getting round to it. These Walking the Road sculptures by Marieke Prinsloo-Rowe have been around for quite some time now. Part of a pilot public art project – they are actually meant to be removed this month. I think it's safe to say they've been a huge success… a much loved addition to Cape Town's cityscape. I'm just hoping that whoever has to take them down is too busy or simply forgets so we can all enjoy them for a bit longer.

Karen McPhail ceramics

2011-06-02T16:59:00.000+02:00

This image has been hanging about on my desktop for a couple of weeks (nabbed off Bloesem). Every now and then I open it up, have a look, and it just makes me so happy. If I was to only see these newspaper collage style illustrations on a flat paper surface I would be excited… but to see them as they are, on beautiful hand made ceramic objects is beyond amazing. The talented person behind all this is Karen McPhail. If you want to read a bit more on how she makes them you can have a look here.

Crochet escape

2011-05-31T16:16:00.001+02:00

Today, life is just getting to be a bit too much – very little sleep, magazine deadlines and grown up decisions (like house buying and all the scary things that come with that). So in the midst of it all I've decided to take a little crochet break to the amazing Attic24. I love all Lucy's patterns and am one square away from a very brightly coloured flower burst cushion – I can hardly wait to get home and finish it. Look at these little birds… aren't they gorgeous! Think they might be next on my crochet to do list.

Karlien de Villiers

2011-05-30T11:31:00.004+02:00

I had to take my car into the garage this morning and was forced (poor me) to take a stroll around town while it was being fixed. I've been wanting to go to the Erdmann Contemporary for ages so I thought: now here's my chance! And I'm so glad I did. On at the moment is an exhibition called Present History a mixed media group exhibition. Just up my ally. I'm too new at blogging (and too shy) to ask if I can take photos but here are 2 examples of Karlien de Villiers work from the gallery's site. Super. If you can, go see the rest!

Ready, steady, blog!

2011-05-17T20:51:00.002+02:00

I've decided to start my blog with one of my favourite illustrator's work. Toby Newsome and I studied together (all those years ago) and I've since had the pleasure of commissioning and working with him on many a magazine project. Here are some illustrations Toby produced while I was Art Director at Fresh Living Magazine. You can see more of his wonderful work at http://www.tobynewsome.com